 | SUSTAINING THE FLOW A newsletter for organizational partners of the Alabama Rivers Alliance Thanks for subscribing & opening ARA's monthly partner newsletter! Give us a scroll this month to read about upcoming events, partner news, job postings, funding sources, upcoming events and opportunities to enjoy our great outdoors in Alabama! As always, please click here to unsubscribe, update your contact info, or sign up others you think could benefit from this newsletter! We hope our newsletter has been useful for you and your organization, and we would appreciate your thoughts on how we can improve our outreach! | | | | | |  | REGULATORY NEWS & COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES Relevant environmental regulatory updates & opportunities to let agencies know how their decision can impact your work. INFO REQUEST FOR 2024 303(d) IMPAIRED WATERWAY LIST & COMMENTS FOR LISTING METHODOLOGY ADEM announced an open comment period to request information, data, and comments for drafting the 2024 303(d) List of Impaired Waterways and comments about Listing Methodology. Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to submit to the EPA a list of waterways impaired or threatened waters with the pollutant causing the impairment identified every two years. ADEM has begun drafting the 2024 303(d) List and is requesting data and information for waterways to consider during preparation of this list. Simultaneously, ADEM is soliciting comments on Alabama's Water Assessment and Listing Methodology, which informs the 303(d) list. For reference, here are links for the 2022 303(d) List and 2022 Water Quality Assessment and Listing Methodology. Data, information, and comments are due to ADEM by 5 pm on September 14, 2023. Electronic submittal is strongly encouraged to jtr@adem.alabama.gov, more details on the public notice here. EPA PROPOSES TO DENY AL COAL ASH PERMIT PROGRAM & HEARINGS | In case you missed the news on August 3rd, the EPA proposed to deny the application submitted by ADEM for their coal ash permit program and better protect local communities from pollution! The EPA preliminarily determined that portions of Alabama's CCR permit program are not compliant with federal regulations for coal ash. This marks the first state CCR permit program the EPA is proposing to deny. There is a 60-day open comment opportunity during which EPA will hold an in-person public hearing on September 20, 2023 in Montgomery and an online public hearing on Sewptember 27, 2023. Visit the EPA's webpage about the denial to learn more, sign up for hearings, and register to speak. | | | | GOOD TO KNOW: ADEM DIRECTOR'S REPORT TO EMC & RECORDING Read a copy of ADEM Director LeFleur's most recent report to the Alabama Environmental Management Commission from August 11, 2023. The AEMC is charged with oversight of the Director, so he provides a report to them at each of their bi-monthly meetings. These reports give an indication of the Director's priorities and perspectives on specific areas of the agency's work that may be of interest to your organization or your community. Read the Director's Report here. During the public comment period following the meeting, Cade Kistler of Mobile Baykeeper, Justin Overton of Coosa Riverkeeper, and former mayor of Wilsonville Lee McCarty spoke out against ADEM's decision to leave leaking coal ash ponds in place throughout the state. Tune into the video recording of the live stream to hear what they had to say, starting at about minute 34. Watch here. | | | | | |  | AROUND THE ARA OFFICE - Victory declared on Chandler Mountain! Alabama Power has abandoned it's bid for Chandler Mountain and Little Canoe Creek. ARA, Coosa Riverkeeper, Energy Alabama, the Friends of Big Canoe Creek, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Southern Environmental Law Center collaborated to support the community, and we are grateful for their tireless efforts to stop this project. Read the full release here.
- We have a brand new look! We are thrilled to unveil our refreshed logo and organizational branding. After 25+ years of commitment to #DefendRivers, and with a new five-year strategic plan in place, our new logo embodies the essence of our mission and the principles that drive us forward. Read more here.
- We are excited to announce our all-star water and wastewater infrastructure research and policy advocacy team we've lined up for this fall! Two awesome fellows will be joining us and expanding our capacity for assessing and advocating for equitable water and wastewater infrastructure funding in Alabama.
We are pleased to be working with the University of Alabama for Dr. Jillian Maxcy-Brown's post-doctoral research and with Madelyn Cantu and her impressive policy research experience. Stay tuned to hear more about them! | | | | | |  | PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACROSS ALABAMA Amplifying the voices of those working for change in Alabama by celebrating news, wins of all sizes, milestones, AND ways others could use support! Submit your news so we can celebrate you! - The EPA has taken the first steps toward revoking Alabama’s coal ash permitting plan, saying the state’s plan does not do enough to protect rivers and drinking water from toxins. Read more from AL.com with quotes from Mobile Baykeeper, Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Coosa Riverkeeper, and the Southern Envrionmental Law Center.
- Alabama Scenic River Trail is gearing up again for the Great Alabama 650, the 5th Edition of a 650 mile Alabama professional paddle race! This race from Lake Weiss to Fort Morgan will be from September 30 to October 10, 2023. Learn more about how you can support the race!
- Raising HEC? The Huntsville Environmental Coalition is excited to announce their recent efforts of working with the city of Huntsville towards getting a Sustainability Commission are paying off, more to come. Follow them on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
- Congratulations to both Katies with Black Warrior Riverkeeper! Check out the recent staff changes announcement & learn where Katie F is moving and who will be coming back to BWRK here!
- Catch Julie Lay, concerned citizen and co-founder of the Alabama Waste Sludge Awareness group, speaking at the League of Women Voters of Alabama's Environmental Education Series! Register to hear her on Thursday September 19 at 6:30 pm CST, here.
- Listen to the latest season of the Southern Environmental Law Center's Broken Ground podcast here!
- Welcome to Jane and Christy, new staff with the South Alabama Land Trust! Read more about them here and wish them luck!
- The 2023 fish consumption advisories are out now, and the toll-free statewide advisory hotline has been updated. Thanks to Waterkeepers Alabama, Coosa Riverkeeper, and the Alabama Rivers Alliance for our annual effort to update the media and hotline for the public's knowledge! Read our press release here.
- In her new role at The Capacity Collaborative, Kathleen Kirkpatrick has partnered with Thriving Earth Exchange to establish a SE hub for their community science program. If your community has local environmental concerns that would benefit from a 6-18 month partnership with experienced scientists to help identify the issues, sign up to chat with Kathleen about applying before the September deadline.
- Meet this year's Wild & Scenic Stewardship Partners, which include Alabama's Mountains, Rivers, and Valleys Resource Conservation & Development Council! This is the fifth year River Network and the USDA Forest Service work to fund local organizations working with Wild and Scenic Rivers. Read more.
- Got an eye on federal funding? Sign up for The Water Program Portal. The Portal centralizes guidance and opportunities under new federal funding established by the IIJA & IRA. On boarding session will take place August 29 at 3 pm CST, register to learn more.
This newsletter is created by a small team with limited resources, please use reply to this email or click below to submit newsletter items from your organization! | | | | | | | | FUNDING | LEARNING | EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES | | EMPLOYMENT & INTERNSHIPS - Alabama Audubon is hiring a Development Director
- Hometown Organizing Project is hiring 4 part-time Climate Canvassers
- Cahaba River Society is hiring a River Sustainability Director, apply by 9/8
- Alabama Arise is hiring three positions: a Hunger Policy Advocate, a Finance & Operations Associate, and a Development Associate
| | | | | | Alabama Rivers Alliance
2014 6th Avenue North, Suite 200 | Birmingham, Alabama 35203
205.322.6395 | info@alabamarivers.org | | | | | | | | | | | |
